Date Night (out 13 September 10, Cert. 12)

Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Ray Liotta, Kristen Wiig, Taraji P. Henson, directed by Shawn Levy, 2010, cert. 12

Monkey Score: 76%

The life of New Jersey couple Claire and Phil Foster (Tina Fey and Steve Carell) is typical of that of many married couples: it ticks along following an established routine. Shaken by the split of a couple of friends they believed solid, Phil suggests a night out in New York City instead of their local dinner & the movie weekly date night. As they fudge to get a table at a trendy Manhattan eaterie, though, a set of events unfolds that will shake the spark back into their relationship.

We at MovieMonkeys used to find Steve Carrell rather annoying, or at least the roles he had been cast in -we have nothing against the guy personnally! The way he carries Date Night, however, made us reconsider. Tina Fey is her usual fast-mouthed sparkly self in the role of Claire, excellent but no big surprise. Support from a shirtless Mark Wahlberg, wise-guy Ray Liotta and bent cop Taraji P. Henson is equally spot on, and equally expected. No, it is definitely Carrell who manages to drive Date Night: as hapless happily married tax accountant Phil, he couldn't have picked a role that required more finesse to be brought to life on screen. Yet Carrell manages to do so with panache. As a result Date Night is both funny and touching, which makes for a, well, great Date Night movie.

Rapt (out 13 September 10, Cert. 15)

Yvan Attal, Anne Consigny, André Marcon, Françoise Fabian, Alex Descas, directed by Lucas Belvaux, 2009, cert. 15, in French with English subtitles

MovieMonkeys Score: 74%

Powerful industrialist Stanislas Graff (Yvan Attal) is kidnapped one morning right in front of his building by an armed gang. Thus starts a his descent to hell, with plenty of abuse, violence and humiliation. Graf somehow allows his kidnappers no hold over him, accepts everything without rebelling or fighting back, responding with dignity to the barbaric treatment he is subjected to. Cut off from the world, receiving only snippets of news from his jailers, Graff can't understand why no one will pay the ransom that would free him. Outside, his world slowly collapses when his true nature is revealed.

Based on a true story that took place in the 70s, Rapt is a chilling tale and a sombre look at what make people tick. Graf is a complex, multi-layered individual, portrayed by Yvan Attal to sheer perfection. The victim slowly becomes less and less sympathetic, which makes for an uncomfortable but captivating film. While the rich industrialist kidnap is not a new theme Lucas Belvaux manages to create a well-woven tale .The tension is palpable, the action scenes exciting, and to top it up Rapt exudes that famous Gallic je-ne-sais-quoi. Nice.

We have 3 copies of RAPT on DVD for you to win, courtesy of Chelsea Films - follow the link!